Football game



1933- J. J. WARREN FOOTBALL GAME Filed May 14, 1951 l\ k E\ T r F 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o 00 0 00000000 0000 o 0000 00000000 0000 Q 000 00000000 000 0 +000 00000 000 0 000a o 00 0 000 000 0 00 a h 00 000000 000 00 00 a: 0 0 00 00 000 00 0 o -0 0 000 000 0 2:

ml 00 0 o N @0000 0 000?- N 0 0 00 o a: 000 g 00 o 0 000000- g 0000 g; o v O O -on K r\ O o h 000 000 w 000 00000- J 000 0000 o 000 00000: 000 0000 0 $000 0000 00 00 o 0000 000 0 00 000 o 000 00000 000 0 K 000 00 00a 000 0 00 o 000 0 000* 000 000 3000 0000 000 00 Y 0 O O O 0'- 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 1933- J. J. WARREN 1,922,904

FOOTBALL GAME Filed May 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE Application May I4, 1931. Serial No. 537,352

23 Claims. (01. 273--94) This invention relates to an indoor table football game, and in particular to a game in which provision is made for carrying out all the plays of an actual football game in accordance with the recognized rules and regulations of the real game. I Indoor games similating the outdoorgame of football have been made heretofore but in'all of them known to me the ball or men were put in play or activated by the turning of cards or the spinning of a dial, the men and ball being moved to a position on-the board corresponding to the letters or markings onthe cards or dial. These games, therefore, depended, to a greatextent, upon the element of chance and the players had no discretion in choosing the plays.

It is an object of thisinvention to provide an indoor football game in which the various offensive plays of an actual football game may be executed at the will of the players.

Another object is to provide a football game in which the defensive men may be shifted at will to intercept or break up the play of the offensive team.

A further object is to provide an indoor football' game in which the results of the game depend on the skill and ingenuity of the players.

A still further object is to provide novel means of executing the various plays of an actual football game. a

A still further object is to provide a football game which is extremely simple to play; does not require any needless and dogmatic rules and which has relatively few parts.

These and other objects which will be made apparent to those skilled in this particular art are accomplished by means of this invention, one embodiment of which is described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure l is a top plan view of a board or table laid out as a miniature football field in accordance with my invention; showing the offensive and defensive formations.

Fig. 2 is a view in sideelevation of the game board having aportion thereof broken away for convenience of illustration. I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in perspective of the ball propelling device having a portion thereof broken away for clearness.

extending lines 12 which form the goal lines and the five-yard markers of the field.

The ends of the lines 12 along the edges of the field may be suitably marked as indicated in Figure 1 so as to readily indicate the total number of yards of any point on the field from the players goal, and openings 13 may be provided at regular intervals therealong for the reception of pins not shown) for marking off the yardage to be gained by the offensive players.

ihe ends of the board beyond the goal lines may be marked off with diagonal lines 14, in accordance with the present practice in laying 01f an actual football field, which mark the space between the goal line and goal posts 15. .While I have illustrated the goal posts 15 in the form of a basket so that the ball may be caught therein, it is understood that they may be of any other suitable shape :and may even be painted on the board if desired.

The actual playing field between the side lines 11 and the goal lines 12 is provided with a plurality of openings or depressions 16. These opening or depressions 16 are arranged in transversely extending rows and the' openings in one row are offset relative to the openings in the next row. The playing field may also be provided with slots or grooves 17 which may be arranged in any suitable manner and extend in any desired direction. The purpose of the openings 16 and the groove 17 will be hereinafter explained.

Some of the openings 16, a small portion of which designated as 18, are suitably marked with different colors or with numbers to indicate thepenalties to be imposed upon one or the other of the teams.

The game is played with a spherical metallic ball 19 (Fig. 3) which is directed toward any part of the playing field by a ball propelling mechanism 20. The ball propelling mechanism 20 is movable over the board and forms the offensive team. When it is desired to execute a play the ball 19 is placed in a ball receiving member 21 mounted atthe base of an inclined member 22.

Gne end of the ball receiving member is closed by'a spring actuated ball propelling member 23 pivotally mounted on the member 21 and held in its ball propelling'position by a lever 24 pivoted to the bottom of the inclined member 22,

one end of which extendsupwardly through the bottom of the inclined member and engages the ball propelling member 23.

The other end of the lever 24 is provided with a handle 25. When the handle 25 is operated the ball, propelling member 23 is released and forces the ball 19 up the inclined member 22 against a defiecting'member 26, which is rotatably mounted at 27, to the top of the inclined member. The deflecting member 26 may be p0,-

sitioned so as to direct the ball toward any desired In order that the offensive player may outguess the defensive team and execute trick or fake plays, the inclined member 22 has triangular shaped members 29 which may be used to direct the ball to some other portion of the board than it would ordinarily have been directed by the deflector 26. The members 29 are mounted on pins 30 which extend upwardly through the inclined member-22.- The pins 30 are in the formof' crank arms and are pivoted to a lever 31 which terminates beyondone side of the inclined member 22 in a handle 32. By pushing the handle in or out, the triangular shaped members 29 are moved into or out of the path of the ball as it rolls down the inclined member 22 and deflect the same toward some other partof the board than that originally selected by the player when he sets the deflecting member 26.

It is apparent from this arrangement that the direction of travel of the ball may be readily changed at the will of the player, for example, a play that was originally intended for an end run may be changed at the last minute into a play through the line. I

In order that the defensive player may not see the position of the deflector 26, the ball propelling member 20 is provided with a cover 33 which permits the ball to be seen by the defensive player asit starts down the inclined surface 22.

As in the actual game of "football the plays executed by the offensive team are attempted to be intercepted or broken up by the defensive team which is shifted transversely of the board by the defensive player to stop the ball 19 and cause it to come to rest in one of the openings 16. The defensive team comprises men or game characters 40 which represent the ends and tackles of a football team, men 41 which represent the guards and center, and men 42 which represent*the backfield men. The characters 40 are secured to sleeves 43 slidably mounted on a frame 44 which is slidably mounted in guideways 45 extending longitudinally of the board 10. The men 41 are secured to a sleeve 46 which is slidably mounted on the frame 44 ,between the sleeves 43. The sleeves 43 on the frame 44 are maintained in spaced relation to each other by bar 47, one end of which extends beyond one of the sleeves 43 to form an operating handle 48. The backfield men 42 are secured to a frame 49 which depends from the bar 47. The men 40 are so positioned on the sleeves 43 that, as the handle 48 is operated, they will pass behind the men 41 mounted on the sleeve 46 (Fig. 2).

As is readily seen from this arrangement, all the defensive men may be moved transversely across the playing field, or the men 40 and 42 may be moved relative to the men 41. While I have illustrated one defensive team it is to be understood that each player is provided with a defensive team similar in all respects to the one described.

In playing the game, the ball propelling device 20 is placed on the 40-yard line and the defensive team is moved back to a predetermined yard marker to receive the kick-off.v In kicking off a softball is substituted, for the metallic ball 19 which is placed in a holder 55 which is secured to an upright 56 fastened on the cover plate 33 of the ball propelling device 20. The soft ball is kicked by a foot 5'7 formed on the end of a lever 58 which is pivoted to the upright 56. The lever 58 is maintained in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 by a small spring member (not shown). An operating handle 59 is secured to the lever 58.

When it is desired to kick the ball, the handle 59 is raised by the player which turns the lever 58 against the tension of the spring member. On release of the handle the foot 57 is forced against the soft ball propelling it a short distance through the air. The ball alights on the board where it comes to rest in one of the openings 16. The metallic ball is then substituted for the soft ball and the ball propelling mechanism 20 is given to the player receiving the kickoff who positions iton the board so that the ball receiving member 21 is directly behind the ball 19.

The row of openings in which the ball comes to rest forms the line of scrimmage. The defensive player then brings the defensive team into position on the other side of the line of scrimmageand positions the men 41 in front of the ball so that the character representing the center is directly in front of the ball 19. The offensive player then sets the ball propelling member 23 so that it is engaged by the trigger on the end of the lever 24 and places the ball 19 in the ball receivingmember 21. He then decides on the play which he would like to use and sets the deflector 26 in position to carry out that play. The handle 25 is then operated releasing the ball propelling member 22 which forces the ball up the inclined member 22 against the deflector 26. The deflector 26 directs the ball toward that portion of the field to which the play selected would normally go in an actual football game.

As the ball starts to roll down the inclined member 22, it comes into view of the defensive player who moves the operating handle 43 and shifts the end, tackles and backfield men into the path of travel of the'ball. If the offensive player sees that the ball will be blocked by the defensive men, he operates the lever 32 which turns the triangular members 29 into the path of travel ofv the ball which deflects the ball toward another portion of the fleld.

The members 29 can be moved so that a very slight change in thedirection of travelcan be imparted to the ball. For example, a play that was originally a wide end run may be changed at; the last minute into an oif-tackle play, or a line play may be changed into an end run. These triangular members 29 permit the offensive player to resort to trick or fake plays as is common in the actual game of football.

The ball after leaving the inclined member 22 rolls on the board and if not stopped or inter cepted by the defensive'team finally comes to rest in one of the openings 16. If the ball comes to rest in any of the openings designated as 18, a penalty. is inflicted on either one or the other of the players depending upon the marked in- 4 dicia of the opening. If the ball comes to rest in any of the other openings, the ball propelling member is again positioned directly behind the ball and the defensive team is lined upon the 65 (Fig. 5 which is placed on the board by the ofiensive player in position to receive the ball; The disc 65 is provided with a plurality-of openings or depressions 66 and an upright member 67 around the periphery thereof which stops the ball and causes it to come to rest in one of the openings 66' therein. The openings in the disc 65 each carry a marking indicia indicating whether or not the pass has been completed, intercepted or whether a penalty was incurred by either of the teams. a

-While I have shown a disc to be used in forward passing, it is understood that the board 10 may be laid off into suitable zones for the purpose of receiving the ball on forward passing.

It is also to be understood that while I have described a soft ball to be used in kicking and passing 'both of the plays can be accomplished by using the metallic ball alone. To kick off or punt with the metallic ball, the defensive team is moved back from the ball propelling mechanism 20 a predetermined number of yards. The ball 19 is then rolled across the board by the kicking team. The defensive men may be shifted transversely of the board to prevent the ball from going beyond the line to which it has been'moved. To forward pass with the metallic ball, the disc 65 is positioned on the board and the offensive player announces that he will try for a forward pass. The defensive team is then moved to the side opposite from the disc 65 so that the offensive player will have an open field to roll the ball toward the passing disc. can, if he wishes, try a running play instead of forward passing. The running play, however, must be directed toward the opposite side of the board from the forward passing receiving disc 65.

"Ihe'board 10 may also be provided with grooves 17 (as shown in Figure l) which insure a good gain to the offensive player if he is able to direct the ball into one of the grooves.

The ball propelling device 20 may be provided with agroove '70 leading from the ball receiving member 21 to the deflector 26 so as to cause the ball to strike the deflector at a certain point each time it is forced up the inclined member 22. The inclined member 22 may also be provided with grooves 71 and '72 along the sides thereof for positively directing the ball against the triangular deflecting members 29. (Fig. 3).

In Fig. 4, Ihave shown a modified form of a ball propelling device. In this modification the ball is place'din a ball receiving member 21 where it rests against a spring actuated ball propelling member 23' which is operated by a handle 25. On turning the handle 25, the ball propelling member 23 forces the ball up the inclined member 22' against the edge of a member '75 which is provided with a plurality of angularly disposed deflecting faces '76. The ball striking one of the angular faces 76 is directed into one of the shallow grooves 77 formed in the inclined member 22' which directs and propels the ball on the board 10. In this modification, it is readily apparent that the offensive player is not able to choose the play which he will use, but relies upon the element of chance toh'ave the ball deflected into the proper groove"?! so as to execute the desired play. 7

t isreadily apparent fromthe foregoingde- 'scription that I have invented a football game which is highly interesting to the players, requires skill and ingenuity uponthe part of the players, and in which all of the plays ordinarily used in actual football may be utilized by the players as they desire. It is to be understood that my inven- The oifensive player tion is not limited to the embodiment specifically illustrated in the drawings and that certain changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claiinas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

I. In an indoor football game the combination of a board having a plurality of depressions therein, means for directing a ball toward any portion of said board, and means movable transversely of said board for intercepting and stopping said ball so as to cause it to come to rest in one of said depressions.

2. In an indoor football game, the combination of aboard laid out as a miniature football field and having a plurality of openings therein, a ball rollable on said board, means for directing said ball toward any desired portion of said board, and means movable transversely of said board for intercepting and stopping said ball so as to cause to come to rest in one of said depressions.

3. In an indoor football game, the combination of a board laid out as a miniature football field and having a plurality of openings therein, penalty marking indicia mounted in some of said openings, an object movable over said board, means for directing said object toward any portion of said board and means for intercepting and stopping said object so as to cause the object to come to rest in one of said openings.

.4. In an indoor football game, the combination of a board laid out as a miniature football field and having a plurality of openings therein,

penalty marking indicia mounted in some of said openings, a ball rollable on said board, a ball propelling device movableover said board, means on said ball propelling device for directing the ball toward any portion of said board, and defensive men for intercepting and stopping the so as to cause the ball to come to rest in one of said openings.

5.- In an indoor football game, the combination of a board laid out as a miniature football field and having a plurality of openings therein, penalty marking indicia. mounted in some of said openings, a ball rollable on said board, a ball deflecting membenineans for propelling said ball against said deflecting member, and means for intercepting and stopping said ball as it leaves said deflecting members so asto cause the ball to come to rest in one of said openings.

6. In an indoor football game, the combination of a board having a plurality of depressions therein, a ball rollable on said board, a ball rolling member movable oversaid board, ball deflecting means on ball rolling member, means f r propelling said ball against said deflecting n" and means for intercepting and stopping said ball as it leaves said ball rolling members so as to cause the ball to come to rest in one of said depressions.

'hIn an indoor football game, the combinaof ,a board formed as a replica of a football field having a plurality of depressions therein, a ball reliable on said board, a ball propelling member, means for directing said ball towardany 8. In an indoor football game, the combination of a board having aplurality of openings and grooves therein, marking indicia in some of said openings, means for executing running plays, means for executing forward passing plays, and means movable transversely of said board for intercepting said ball and directing it into one of said openings to complete the play.

9. A ball propelling device for an indoor football game comprising an inclined member, a deflecting member at the top of said inclined memher, and means for forcing a ball up said incline against said deflecting member.

10. A ball propelling device for an indoor football game comprising an inclined member, a deflecting member rotatably mounted at the top of said inclined member, and spring actuated means for forcing a ball up said inclined member against said deflecting member.

11. A ball propelling device for an indoor fOOt-r ball gamecomprising an inclined member, means at the top of said inclined member for deflecting a ball toward one side or the other of said inclined member, means for forcing a ball up said inclined member against said deflecting means, and means for changing the direction of travel of said ball as it rolls down said inclined member.

12.. A ball propelling device for an indoor football game comprising an inclined member having a plurality of grooves formed therein, a deflectingmember at the top of said inclined member, means for forcing a ball up said inclined member against said deflecting member, whereby the ball is directed into one of said grooves.

13. A ball propelling device for an indoor football game comprising an inclined member having a plurality of grooves formed therein, a deflecting member at the top of said inclined member, means for forcing a ball up said inclined member against said deflecting member, whereby the ball is directed into one of said grooves and means disposed in said grooves forchanging the direc tion of travel of saidball. 1

14. A ball propelling device for an indoor football game comprising an inclined member having a plurality of grooves formed therein, spring actuated means for forcing a ball up said inclined member, a memberrotatably mounted on said inclined member for directing the ball into one of said grooves and means disposed in said grooves for changing the direction of travel of said ball as it rolls down said inclined member.

15. In an indoor football game, the combination of a board havin a plurality of openings therein, a ball rollable on said board, a ball. propelling member having a grooved inclined surface, means for forcing the ball up said inclined surface, means for deflecting the ball into one of grooves, defensive characters mounted above said board, and means for moving some of said defensive characters into the path of travel of the ball as it leaves the inclined surf cc of said ball propelling member so as to bring it to rest in one of said openings.

16. In an indoor football game, the combination of a board having a plurality of openings and grooves therein; marking indicia disposed in some of said openings, a frame member ex football field and having a plurality of openings therein arranged in transversely extending spaced rows, marking indicia disposed in some of said openings, a frame member extending transversely of said board above the same and slidable longitudinally thereof, game characters slidably mounted on said frame, means for kicking and passinga ball, means for rolling a ball toward any portion of said board and means for moving some of said game characters along on said frame so as to intercept and stop said ball so as to cause it to come to rest in one of said openings.

18. In an indoor table football game, the combination comprising a playing surface having a plurality of depressions therein, a ball directing member. for rolling a ball toward any desired portion of said surface, and means movable back and forth across said board for intercepting the ball to bring it to rest in one of the depressions in said surface. I

19. In an indoor table football game, the combination comprising a board formed as a replica of an actual football field and having a plurality of depressions on its playing surface, a ball rolling member movable over said board for directing a ball toward any part thereof, means associated with said ball propelling member for changing the direction of travel of the ball after it has been put in motion, and movable means for intercepting said ball and bringing it to rest in one of the depressions on said board.

20. In an indoor football game, the combination comprising a playing surface having a plurality of depressions therein, some of which are provided with marking indicia, a member having a grooved inclined surface for directing a ball over the playing surface, and game characters capable of being moved back and forth across the board into the path of the ball to intercept the same asit leaves the inclined surface of said member.

21. In an indoor football game, the combination comprising a playing surface having a plurality of depressions therein, some of which are provided with marking indicia, a member having a grooved inclined surface for directing a ball over the playingsurface, and spaced game characters movable back and forth across said board for intercepting and deflecting the ball into one of said depressions as it leaves the inclined surface of said member.

22. In an indoor football game, the combination comprising a playing surface having a plurality of depressions therein, some of which are marked to indicate additional yardage gained, penalties, and the like, a .member having a grooved inclined surface for directing a ball over the playing surface, and game characters for intercepting and deflecting the ball into one of said depressions as it leaves theinclined surface of iember, some of said game characters being slidable transversely of said playing surface.

23. In an indoor football game, the combination comprising a playing surface, a member hav- 

